Winter Haven paramedic builds skills through Polk State leadership program
Nicholas Bilbrey, a Firefighter III/Paramedic for the City of Winter Haven, admits that he wasn’t the greatest student when he was enrolled at Polk State College in the early 2000s. He has been successful in…
The big leagues & viral TikToks: Polk State Business student’s company Screen Skinz sees great success
Clay Canning started his cellphone screen protector design company Screen Skinz as a “side gig” in high school. Now, with his education through Polk State College, years of experience in the industry, licenses with the…
Polk State PTA Director trades clinical role for academia
Mary Krell started June 1 as director of Polk State’s Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program and brings nearly 10 years of professional experience to the College. Most recently serving as a clinical instructor for PTA…
Polk State dual enrollment student receives full ride to Princeton
Matthew Ciccone is heading to Princeton University and credits Polk State College, Florida Virtual School Full Time, and the University of Florida for preparing him for the Ivy League. Additionally, as a QuestBridge Scholar, Ciccone…
Polk State dual enrollment student is heading to Harvard
Nicholas Lopez has been an accelerated learner all his life. He skipped the second grade and exhausted the mathematics courses available at his high school. He was able to take higher-level math courses as a…
Polk State puts aviation career in reach for graduating Eagle being commissioned as U.S. Airforce officer
Stephen Pena Osorio has dreamed of a career in aviation ever since he was a little kid visiting the United States with his family from their native Colombia. He will receive his Bachelor of Science…
Winter Haven City Clerk motivated by family and city she serves to achieve Polk State bachelor’s degree
Vanessa Castillo began her higher education journey nearly 27 years ago and this month, she will receive her Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management with a concentration in Public Administration from Polk State…
Polk County Sheriff’s deputy advances skills & career with Polk State degree
Many students begin their college journeys to gain knowledge and skills that will make them employable in their future careers; then there are students like Daniel Vasquez, who began his career in criminal justice straight…
Graduating Polk State student inspired by family to achieve degree
When Trenton Gray’s mom was diagnosed with cancer, he quickly stepped up to support his family and prioritized work before college. He started working in construction at 18 years old and moved into a supervisor…
Student once told college was not for her is graduating with Polk State bachelor’s degree
When Victoria Baptiste was a junior in high school, a guidance counselor told her that college is not for everyone and that it did not seem like an option for her. “It was one of…